Splitting spheres for $S^2$-links in $S^4$

Abstract

We prove that every smooth two-component split sphere link $L\sqcup R\subset S^4$ admits infinitely many smooth splitting $3$-spheres that are topologically non-isotopic. This generalizes a theorem of Tatsuoka from the two-component sphere unlink to split links with arbitrarily knotted sphere components. In the course of the proof, we establish a general sufficient condition under which a connected sum of smooth $4$-manifolds admits infinitely many topologically non-isotopic splitting $3$-spheres. This criterion may be of independent interest; in particular, it applies to all previously known examples of nonuniqueness for splitting $3$-spheres of positive-genus surface links.